Just a couple days ago I decided to buy myself a pair of Tory Burch Caroline flats in a nude color, which turned out to be my most expensive purchase for one item ever. They haven't come in the mail yet, so pictures will be up then, but for now I wanted to share my decision process before I buy an expensive piece. Here is a sneak peek of what they look like on the Nordstrom website:
I decided to buy these flats because I find myself reaching for my nude Target flats quite often-- They go with absolutely everything, from jeans, fancy and casual dresses/skirts, to work attire. My only issue was the quality of the flats. I bought them at a great price ($12!), but they're made of fake leather and just aren't as comfortable, especially with their shape (Think Tory Burch Revas make of pleather and without the logo). While there is absolutely nothing wrong with cheap shoes (I love them!), I wanted a nude pair that I could wear over and over again and not worry too much about quick wear and tear. I recently saw these on a YouTube beauty guru in one of her OOTD vids, and knew these were the ones! However, for such an expensive purchase, I had to go through a process.
This is my method of deciding when to splurge. Everyone is different, but these are just my suggestions. I encourage you to buy whatever feels right to you!
1. Ask yourself: Do I really need these? How often will I wear them?
I know that I wear my Target flats all the time, and while I may not need these TB flats, they would definitely be better quality and last for quite a while. They are timeless. The amount of times that I'd wear them would make up for the hefty price tag. I also used this same process when buying my Ray-Ban Aviators and my rose gold Fossil watch-- they are my only daily accessories and I wear them almost every single day.
2. Decide which color is right for you and the situation.
That pricey turquoise bag might look great this season, but how often will you use it throughout the year? And will you still love it two years from now? Pick a color that is timeless and will go with anything for years to come, even if your style changes a bit. I knew that these flats would go with anything and everything, and I'll probably love them for years to come.
3. Can I afford this at the moment? Is this an impulse buy?
This is an important question to ask yourself. I'm sure we've all had our impulse-buy-moments that we regret. If you simply cannot afford to buy it at the moment, I suggest you don't. Save up for it. There's a certain kind of feeling you get when you know you can afford to buy something; You lose the "guilty" feeling of wasting the money you could have used for something else you really need. Speaking of preventing impulse buys...
4. Look at it a couple times during the day, and let it "sit" for a week or so.
This is the best way to prevent impulse buys. We're always tempted to buy right then and there when we absolutely love something, but when it comes to something on the expensive side, it's best to stop and think. See how you feel about that item one or two days after, and then a week after your "first encounter" with the lovely piece of clothing/accessory. If you just cannot get it off your mind, then it's probably right to buy. I've found that sometimes I see something I love, but two days afterwards, I decide I really don't need it or love it. This was not the case with my flats!
Here's another scenario though: Sometimes you just can't leave the item there while you sit and think about it, because it might be taken by someone else or sold out. If this is the case, sometimes its okay to buy the item right there... but let it sit in your closet for a while as you think about it. If you find yourself not loving your expensive purchase, then return it ASAP! I've done that a couple times!
5. Lastly, go with your own gut feeling.
You may have your own "splurging" decision process, or you may just buy whenever you feel the need to. Whichever it is, remember to always go with your gut feeling. When you know the time is right to buy that expensive piece, by all means, go for it! I always say, "Retail therapy never fails, so long as its done in moderation."
The Bottom Line: Just think of classic, expensive pieces as investments. It must be something you'll cherish for quite a while, otherwise you're just wasting your money. Buy the trendy stuff cheaply and the classic stuff in full quality! :)
I hope that I could be of some use with my advice! I've never written a post like this before, and I kinda like it. I love giving fashion and shopping advice when possible!
Please let me know what you think, and maybe some tips for your investment decision process as well!
these are a great shoe, i had them in black :) nude shoes are a perfect splurge item, im sure you'll wear them a ton!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with splurging on statement pieces. I own two pairs of black flats (Target and PayLess) and am considering just spending the money on a black pair in leather.
ReplyDeleteI bought a pair of nude leather flats as well, but I didn't want to spend the Tory Burch money. I'm not much of a shoe person. I'd rather have a handbag. For me, it was a pair of Lucky Brand at TJ Maxx. Let me tell you, it's worth it to have the leather. I'm sure that you'll love them. And don't consider it a splurge. It's a staple.
I think these are great questions to ask yourself when thinking about buying investment pieces, specially when you don't have the funds to splurge. However, when I really like something I say "to hell with the question" but my account suffers deeply when I do this. So these are definitely great questions to make sure you are realistic with.
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